STATE PAPERS. 



453 



atid batteries opposed to it. In 

 another recent attack by a power- 

 ful force on our troops at Platts- 

 burg, of which regulars made a 

 part only, the eneraj', after a per- 

 severance for manj' hours, was 

 finally compelled to seek safety in 

 a hasty retreat, our gallant bands 

 pressing upon him. On the lakes, 

 so much contested throughout the 

 war, the great exertions for the 

 command made on our part have 

 been well repaid on Lake Ontario. 

 Our squadron is now and has been 

 for some time in a condition to 

 confine that of the enemy to his 

 own port, and to favour the opera- 

 tions of our land forces on that 

 frontier. On Lake Champlain, 

 where our superiority had for some 

 time been undisputed, the British 

 squadron lately came into action 

 with the American, commanded 

 by Captain M'Donnough ; it is- 

 sued in the capture of the whole 

 of the enemy's ships. The best 

 praise of this officer and his in- 

 trepid comrades is in the likeness 

 of his triumph to the illustrious 

 victory which immortalized ano- 

 ther officer, and established at a 

 critical moment our command of 

 another lake. On the ocean, the 

 pride of our naval arms has been 

 amply supported : a second frigate 

 has indeed fallen into the hands of 

 the enemy, but the loss is hidden 

 in the blaze of heroism with which 

 she was defended. Capt. Porter, 

 who commanded her, and whose 

 previous career had been distin- 

 guished by daring enterprize and 

 by fertility of genius, maintained 

 a sanguinary contest against two 

 ships, one of them superior to his 

 own, and other severe disadvan- 

 tages, till humanity tore down the 

 colours vrhich valour had nailed 



to the mast. This officer and Iiis 

 comrades have added much to the 

 glory of the American flag, and 

 have merited all the effusions of 

 gratitude which their country is 

 ever ready to bestow on the cham- 

 pions of its rights and of its 

 safety. 



Two smaller vessels of war have 

 also become prizes to the enemj', 

 but by superiority of force, which 

 sufficiently vindicates the reputa- 

 tion of their Commanders ; whilst 

 two others, one commanded by 

 Capt. Warrington, the other by 

 Capt. Blakely, have captured Bri- 

 tish ships of the same class with a 

 gallantry and good conduct, which 

 entitled them and their Com- 

 manders to a just share in the 

 praise of their country. 



In spite of the naval forces of 

 the enemy accumulated on our 

 coasts, our private cruisers also 

 have not ceased to annoy his com- 

 merce, and to bring their rich 

 prizes into our ports : contributing 

 thus, with other proofs to de- 

 monstrate the incompetency and 

 the illegality of a blockade, the 

 proclamation of which has been 

 made the pretext for vexing and 

 discouraging the commerce of 

 neutral powers with the United 

 States. 



To meet the extended and di- 

 versified warfare adopted by the 

 enemy, great bodies of militia have 

 been taken into the service of the 

 public defence, and great expenses 

 incurred. That the defence every 

 where may be both more conve- 

 nient and more economical. Con- 

 gress will see the necessity of im- 

 mediate measures of filling the 

 ranks of the regular army, and en- 

 larging the provisions for special 

 corps, mounted and dismounted 



